They’re currently on display in our Tentacles special exhibition, in a custom exhibit that boasts chilly water, lowered oxygen levels and red-lit darkness designed to keep deep-sea cephalopods comfortable. These individuals were collected as a part of ongoing research into their taxonomy and mysterious deep-ocean biology. MBARI researchers suspect that our local flapjack octopus might be a new species. “Who ordered the short-stack?” Aquarist Ellen Umeda meets a flapjack octopus 1,300 feet (400 m) deep thanks to MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana. Last week, deep-sea researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and our cephalopod aquarists found several flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.) in the deep waters of the Monterey submarine canyon during a research cruise. Tentacles octopuses cephalopods monterey bay aquarium flapjack octopus mbariĭeep-sea flapjack octopus return to Tentacles! That first batch didn’t mature, but we’ll try again if any other individuals reproduce. One of the flapjack octopuses even laid eggs in our behind-the-scenes holding area. They’re helping us learn about many deep-sea species, through video observation and occasionally collecting individuals. We may yet discover more species in this group-with the help of MBARI. They’re one of the cirrate octopuses – a tiny group within the overall family. Very little is known about the life history of these animals. Since the octopus can’t see red light, it thinks it’s in the darkness of the deep sea, its natural environment. We use a red light to display this species. These images show the flapjack octopus ( Opisthoteuthis sp.) in the wild, and on exhibit. It was collected by our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and it’s on exhibit now in our Tentacles special exhibition, which opened this morning for members, and tomorrow (April 12) for the general public! The ink also clouds the water so the octopus can escape without being seen.Ī very few of the 300 species of octopuses have the ability to transform themselves into more fierce looking marine life such as eels and even sea snakes which often frightens a potential predators.Does this octopus look familiar? The “flapjack octopus” is a rarely observed, deep-sea species, but you may know it better as the inspiration for the animated character Pearl in Finding Nemo. The octopus ejects a thick black cloud of ink which dulls the sense of smell of most large predators such as sharks. The most unique defense mechanism an octopus has is called ink sacs. An octopus also uses the camouflage technique to communicate with other octopus especially to warn them of danger. Octopuses have the ability to camouflage themselves blending in with their background so potential predators are unable to see them and swim on by. It is not their best defense mechanism but it does work well for them. When they jet propulsion they straighten their body out and jet quickly through the water. Jet propulsion is another way the octopus can escape predators normally they crawl or swim. FLAPJACK OCTOPUS CRACKThey have the ability to straighten their body out and become very thin which allows them to escape a potential threatening situation through a small crack in an ocean reef where they spend the majority of their time. Regardless of the size all octopuses have the same defense mechanisms. There are over 300 known species of octopuses some of them are very small and would fit in the hand of an adult and some are so large they make a compact size car look small. Which is all part of their survival mechanisms. The octopus is also has the ability to grow a new arm. As they can often outsmart a predator and make a quick escape without having to even use one of their defense mechanisms. With such a high level of intelligence they only require a few defense mechanisms to survive in the deep blue sea. It has also been proven that they feel pain pretty much the same way a human does do their extensive nervous system. There central nervous system in highly developed with half of it residing in their brain and the other half divided among its eight arms. Marine biologists who have studied octopuses determined that have both a short term and long-term memory. Octopuses have proven to be highly intelligent. They are however exceptionally strong which works to their advantage when capturing their prey. The octopus has a few unique defense mechanisms unlike other ocean dwelling occupants, the octopus is not equipped with sharp teeth or poisonous sting rays.
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